Upholstery Cleaning

First we dry-vacuum the upholstery with our equipment as removing the non-soluble soil (dry particulate soil) is very important. It can damage the individual filaments that make up the fibers of the affected material. Removing it can also improve the indoor air quality of your home. The most common substances removed are pet hair, human hair, dead skin cells, dust, pollens, bugs, pollutants, food, etc.

We have a variety of methods we can make use of when providing an upholstery cleaning service. The type of method and the materials that construct the fabric determine what cleaning solution will be used. Typically we utilize a neutral pH of 7 so it is safer for people, pets and the environment. Natural fibers require a different solution while synthetic fibers can be cleaned by others.

The primary manner by which our cleaning service agitates the upholstery cleaning solution into the fibers is through the use of a hand tool. Sometimes the fibers are so delicate (in terms of the actual material and construction of the weave pattern) that any type of agitation can damage the fabric. If this is the case our cleaning service relies on heat and dwell time to loosen the soil to a point where it can be more safely removed.

Extracting the soil can be performed in several different ways. Our preferred method is to gently apply hot water while the suspended soil is being removed. In some cases we need to use clean, white towels to remove the soil. Very delicate fabrics may require an additional method for extracting the soil. Either way our upholstery cleaning service will find a way to remove the soil while preserving the integrity of the affected material.

Specialized upholstery cleaning products can remove difficult remaining soils in the majority of cases. Many of these substances will be caused by the stains of red beverages, ink, paint or rust. Please note that there may be an additional charge in removing these substances that is calculated depending on the amount of problem spots affecting the upholstery. We maintain a policy wherein we will only charge you for this specific upholstery cleaning service IF we remove the spot. In the occasional event that we are unable to remove the problem spot we do not bill for any extra charge.

This step in our upholstery cleaning service process removes any detergent residue, leaving the upholstery and furniture soft to the touch. Many times previous upholstery cleaners will leave a residue from their cleaning agent behind. Our process and use of specially designed fabric softener removes the sticky residue and leaves a pH around 5.5, the value that major manufacturers recommend to be found once upholstery cleaning is completed.

This part of the upholstery cleaning service can sometimes be performed during the upholstery cleaning process but, in some cases, we will apply it after the upholstery cleaning. The protectant used by USClean has been coined Teflon or Scotch Guard. These are only brand names and the protectant is technically known by the name, fluorochemical, a chemical that all carpet hosts at the time of manufacture. Unfortunately, over time and the damage cause by inexperienced upholstery cleaners, the protectant can be removed. It is highly recommended as a wise investment to re-apply the protective coating. With our Premium Package you receive a 1 year warranty which allows us to come to your home and spot clean if you are unable remove the spot with our free bottle of cleaning solution.

Allowing time for proper drying is of the utmost importance in ensuring quality results in the process of upholstery cleaning. Most of the time, when there is a problem with dye migration, it occurs after the upholstery is dry. Putting the upholstery in a state where it can dry quickly is very important. Most of the time, allowing adequate air flow will result in the quick drying of the newly cleaned upholstery.

Upholstery material is broken down into 2 categories: Natural & Synthetic.

Natural fibers come from either an animal or plant.

Wool: Comes from sheep. Pro’s: very strong, great dye acceptance, flame retardant, resilient, natural crimp, natural insulator, sound absorbant, very long life span. Con’s: stain’s easily, hides up to 360% of it’s weight in soil, expensive, chemical sensitive.

Silk: Comes from silk worms. Pro’s: elastic, great dye acceptance, flame retardant. Con’s: stains easily, very expensive, chemical sensitive.

Cotton: Comes from the seed pod of the cotton plant and is primarily used in either the warp or weft yarns when constructing the backing of the carpet pile. Pro’s: Strong, Absorbent, heat resistant, static resistant. Con’s: Stain’s easily, mildew, browning, shrinkage.

Sisal, Jute, Sea Grass, & Coir: Comes from various plants. Pro’s: Strong, Durable. Con’s: Flammable, mildew, shrinkage, chemical sensitive.

Synthetic fibers are man-made and make up the majority of the upholstery in homes and offices.

Nylon: Went through 5 generations to get it to where it is today. Pro’s: Strong, Good Elasticity, Static Resistant, Resilient, non-absorbent, responds well to cleaning, fairly inexpensive. Con’s: good dye acceptance, can stain easily, bleaching, fading. This type of material is rarley used in upholstery.

Polyester: Can be known as the “green” upholstery because it can be made out of recycled products. Most often material used in making fabircs for upholstery. Pro’s: resists bleach and fading, stain resistant, environmentally friendly, soft, inexpensive. Con’s: does not resist oil, crimp loss, dye resistant, has a short life span.

Olefin/Polypropylene: Known as berber carpet. Pro’s: Moisture resistant, chemical resistant, fade resistant, light weight, inexpensive, strong, cleans easily. Con’s: Not resilient, low melting point, loves oil, difficult to dye, wicks soil.

Acrylic, Rayon, Acetate: These fibers mimic natural fibers. Not very common and they are very inexpensive.

For the professional upholstery cleaner, there are many ways to identify what material the upholstery is. Several tests can be done to identify the material. These tests consist of a burn test, in which the upholstery cleaning technician is looking at how the fiber burns and responds to heat, the other is a chemical test, where specific chemicals disolve certain fibers.

Please keep in mind, that since each of these fibers have different characteristics, a different upholstery cleaning method may be more effective than others. This is why it is important to hire a company that offer’s a variety of cleaning methods. We view upholstery as our patient. We need to properly diagnose it in order to properly treat it. If you have any questions about what your upholstery is made out of, please call or email us.

The S300 is the standard for upholstery cleaning, and there are 5 basic steps.

There are 3 cleaning methods available.

Wet Method:

There are three ways to wet clean upholstery. First, hot-water extraction; second, dry foam; third, shampoo.

The hot-water extraction upholstery cleaning method is one of the most commonly used forms of upholstery cleaning. An upholstery cleaning solution is applied then water is taken from your home, transported to a machine (usually a truck), heated up, applied to the upholstery, and then sucked out. It's a great method for upholstery cleaning.

The dry foam upholstery cleaning method was one of the earliest methods to clean upholstery. A dense foam is created, applied to the upholstery, agitated, and then left on as it dries. After it is dry, it must be vacuumed. This is a low moisture method.

The shampoo works by applying wet solution and then agitated. Usually the solution will foam up a bit. A towel can be used to remove the soil. It is left to dry and vacuumed shortly after. This method does get the upholstery pretty wet and can take some time to dry.

Dry Method:

The dry upholstery cleaning method works by applying a series of dry solvents to the upholstery. This method is used on fabrics that are sensitive to bleeding and water. It is called dry cleaning because it is a non-water, hydrocarbon-based compound. This method can be dangerous due to the toxicity of the fumes if breathed for long periods of time. The results of cleaning are marginal. This is one method USClean does not practice.

Dry Vacuuming :

There are two ways to dry vacuum upholstery. Encapsulation & Absorbent Compound. These two methods are probably the safest for the most delicate fibers like silk, sisal, jute, & coir.

The encapsulation upholstery cleaning method works by converting soil into crystallized polymers for easy removal vacuuming. The chemicals encapsulate the water & solvent soluble, converting adhesive grime into something flaky and removable. This is the only method that works over time as well. As day's progress, the cleaning solution continues to crystallize soil making it easily removable just from vacuuming. It helps prevent wicking and relies on a neutral pH leaving behind no sticky or hard residues. It may take several attempts to remove as much as the soil as possible.

The absorbent compound upholstery cleaning method works by putting a sawdust-like substance onto the upholstery. It is agitated in with a mechanical device or hand brush. It is then vacuumed and removed. The sawdust-like substance is supposed to attract dirt and stains from the fabric and bring them out when it is being extracted.

First, read the different upholstery cleaning methods to understand which method we use. As a true professional textile cleaner, we offer all the methods of cleaning upholstery with the exception of the dry cleaning method. Some situations require one type of upholstery cleaning depending on the material the upholstery is made out of, and other upholstery may require another method depending on the soiling levels.

The USClean System follows the IICRC guidelines. We do an evaluation of the fiber and determine which method is going to remove the most amount of soil without damaging the upholstery.

If your allergies are acting up in your home, it's probably a good idea to have your carpets, upholstery and/or oriental rugs cleaned. There is an additional treatment that can be applied to reduce future dust mites and other allergens, making your carpets, upholstery, and/or oriental rugs even healthier.

Individuals can be sensitive to chemicals. Rest be assured there is a product line that can be used. The products are not as effective and more expensive when compared to a traditional cleaning, but at least you can experience a clean environment with even safer products. If this is you or someone you love, please tell us when you call so we can give a firm price quote.

Dry cleaning can be confusing. It can mean one of two different things; the dry-granule method as explained above, or solvent cleaning. When dealing with upholstery, dry cleaning usually means cleaning with solvents. Solvents contain no water, (H2O), and that is why it is called dry cleaning. Solvents are still in a liquid state.

To dry clean upholstery, it usually has to be done off site due to the fumes and ventilation. Upholstery requiring this type of cleaning is usually a very expensive piece of furniture made out of some type of velvet material. Silk can also be cleaned with this method. If your upholstery says this, please call us so we can direct you in the best way to clean your furniture.

Yes. To learn more about pet urine and odor removal, please check out USClean's guide to pet odor and urine removal.

According to the S300, which is the standard cleaning manual for upholstery cleaning, once every 12 - 24 months for normal soiled upholstery. Now, depending on the activity of your household and use of upholstery, you may need it more often.

Fiber protectant has been coined the name Scotch Guard or Teflon. Technically, it is called a fluorochemical. Your upholstery had it when it was made. But it does not last forever.

Fiber protectant will help keep most non-soluble, water-soluble, and solvent-soluble soil from damaging the fiber. Fiber protectant wears off quicker in areas where there is more body contact and agitation. If a chemical of pH 10 or higher is applied to the fiber, it will actually take off the protectant. A lot of over-the-counter spot removers are pH 10 or higher.

Another misconception is that fiber protectant will stop all types of soil. Protectant cannot help against disperse dyes, like those found in mustard and shoe polish. Other chemicals like insecticides and medications like Benzoyl Peroxide will go right through the protectant.

Generally, USClean's solution has a neutral pH (about 7), so it will not remove carpet protectant. However, we recommend that after each cleaning a fiber protectant be applied to increase the longevity and health of your upholstery. Any areas where the protectant has been worn off from traffic will be protected.

Unfortunately, this is pretty common. Cellulous fibers, like Cotton have a tendency to brown or develop water rings when they get wet. A professional and certified upholstery technician should be able to prevent the water rings and browning from occurring. There are specialized techniques and products used to help get rid of this problem.

If you have these water rings or have browning due to a cellulous fiber from getting wet, call us and we may be able to help.

Upholstery is usually a blend of several types of materials and all the types of materials can be cleaned. Where upholstery cleaning becomes difficult is in the way these materials create a specific type of fabric that is due to a specific weave. Plain weaves would create fabrics like Cretonne, Chintz, Osnaburg, Moire, Canvas, and Haitian Cotton. A twill weave would create Herringbone, Denim, and Satin. Lastly, pile weaves create Woven Velvet, Flocked Velvet, Tufted Velvet, Crushed Velvet, Embossed Velvet, Chenille, Corduroy, and Frieze.

Jacquard weaves are a very popular type of weave because there is a lot of design and color possibilities. The types of jacquard weaves include Brocade, Brocatelle, Damask, Matelasse, and Tapestry.

The weaves and the type of material determine which type of cleaning method should be used. There is a lot that goes into making a specific type of fabric and there is a lot that goes into cleaning the fabric. Some are much more difficult than others. This is the main reason you will want to hire a professional. The wrong substance on the wrong type of weave and material can ruin your upholstery.